Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	apostle_n	heart_n	love_v	3,359	5	6.1438	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89195	The churches troubles and deliverance, or, Certaine sermons tending to shew the reasons why the Lord doth sometimes bring his people into extremities, with the blessed issue and fruits thereof, on Gen. 22. 14. Also divers arguments giving good hope that yet God will be gracious to England, and not deliver us into our enemies hands. Also some things briefly on Rev. 11. 7. to 14. Bby Tho. Mocket, Mr. of Arts, and preacher of Gods word at Holt in Denbigh-shire.	Mocket, Thomas, 1602-1670?	1642 (1642)	Wing M2305; Thomason E110_18; ESTC R19617	74,158	93

preferment reputation in the world ease liberty or any carnall contentments we affect therefore get thy heart off from those deny thy selfe in those or whatsoever worldly thing is deare unto thee and then it will be an easie matter with Abraham to follow God into the Mount to doe or suffer any thing at his command and for his sake 5. That a man may undergoe with comfort greater tryals he must begin and exercise himselfe with smaller sufferings to beare them cheerfully He must doe as men doe for temporall skirmishes to sight with men First they learne in private Schooles and it may be with woodden swords or with blunted points that will doe little or no hurt They that will be victorious in set-battles doe first traine themselves at home and see how they can carry themselves learne their severall postures for every sadden emergent occasion shoot first with powder at marks c. So a Christian that would behave himselfe bravely in Christs field in Christs cause with Abraham Job c. must learne and exercise himselfe at home and before hand learne to suffer at home and beare the thrusts of woodden Swords the persecutions of Protestants the scoffes scorns reproaches and other vile carriages of carnall Protestants before he enter into the field to encounter the bloody perfections of Papists and their Adherents He that cannot indure the frownes disgraces threats and such like petty in juries from evill men prophane wretches though they be great persons in the world will never by any ordinary providence stand out to shed his blood in the cause of God for the Lord Christ and his Countries good So againe he that cannot beare petty losses crosses or troubles will hardly ever great tryals with more then ordinary assistance from God It is therefore good to begin betimes to accustome our selves to beare and slight all scoffes scornes and custome our selves to beare and slight all scoffes scornes and frownes of men cheerfully to undergoe all small losses and troubles sicitur ad magna and so we shall in time be inabled t undergoe great things with little alteration in our affection yea with much patience cheerfulnesse courage and constancy 6. Labour to have a strong well rooted and well grounded faith and love of God and Christ 1. Faith a well planted and well grounded faith this will enable to cleave unto God in the hardest times to cast our selves and rely wholy on his providence in hope above hope when all worldly means helps and hopes faile 2. Love Eph. 3.17 labour to be rooted and grounded in love as the Apostle speakes what is the reason that many fall away in evill times in times of suffering is it not because they have no true sincere love to Jesus Christ and his Truth Many waters are not able to quench Love neither can floods of water drowne it i. e. no afflictions Cant. 8.6 7. Rom. 8.37 38 his cause and waies but as he in the Story if one hand be cut off he will hold by the other if that also be cut off he will catch hold with his teeth He will resolve with Ruth for Christ and the cause of God and his Countries good Whither thou goest I will goe Ruth 1.16 17. and where thou lodgest I will lodge where thou diest I will die c. Therefore Beloved in the Lord labour for a well grounded faith and a sound unfained love to God to Jesus Christ and your Countries peace and welfare sound love I say not superficiall a lip-love but a deepe rooted and well grounded love The reason why the good seed that was sowne and sprang up quickly wither'd when the Sunne rose was because it had not sound rooting it wanted root be carefull therefore to have a well grounded love that hath good rooting root of judgement and root of affection to have such a love as Christ hath to us even to dye for us so doe you love him so as to be willing to part with an Isaac with any thing be it life it selfe for his sake Now treasure up faith and patience and love as Joseph did corne seeing a day of utterance will come a day of spending not of getting a day wherein all wee have may bee little enough 7. To adde one more for we cannot say too much we cannot be too well prepared for the evill day I say with the Apostle Tut on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6.11 12 13. that you may be able to withstand in the evill day and having done all to stand for we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities and powers c. If a man be to fight with his enemy in the field he will put on his armour to defend himselfe in the best wise he can and great reason he should doe so his life is in danger In like manner should the true Christian doe we in our suff rings and tryals have to encounter not onely with outward troubles and inward corruptions but also with Satan who is not flesh and blood but a spirit mighty in power and policy therefore called Principalities Powers the Rulers of the darknesse of this world the god of this world c. and therefore we have great need to buckle about us all the peeces of our spirituall armour and be well skilled in the use of them and they are these 7. The 1. Pecce of the Christians spirituall Armour ver 14. is the girdle of Truth that is Vprightnesse Sincerity and single heartednesse to sticke to the Truth for the Truths sake to take Christ for himselfe Religion for Religions sake A girdle is for use and ornament it is comely and profitable and so is this it will be of great use for a Christian in evill times as a girdle was in those dayes when men wore long garments to bind them together that they might better apply themselves to their worke runne goe or doe any thing which a long loose garment would hinder Therefore buckle on this peece of Armour labour to be sincere upright hearted in all your wayes and dealings with God and men and to imbrace Christ the truth and Religion for themselves not for by-respects 2. The Breast-plate of Righteousnesse or Justice Ver. 14. Put on the Brest-plate of Righteousnesse saith the Apostle Righteousnesse or Justice I meane distributive Justice whereby a man doth carry himselfe righteously and justly in all his wayes toward God and men giving unto God that beliefe love feare honour praise and obedience that is due unto him and to men that love respect obedience c. that is due unto him I meane in respect of unfained desire and endeavour This is a Brest-plate what is the use of a Brest-plate to guard the heart liver and other vitall parts from darts arrowes shot and the thrusts of the enemies so doth Righteousnes guard a man against temptations in times of tryall Therfore labor to manifest the truth and power of godlines

record to posterity speciall mercies and deliverances For 1. So we are commanded after God had delivered Israel and disco●sited Amalek Gen. 35.1 God commanded Moses saying Write this for a memoriall in a booke Likewise when God had brought Jacob safe home againe to his native country and delivered him from the wrath of his brother Esau God bad him goe to Bethel and make there an Altar unto God Josh 4. ● namely to offer sacrifice of thankesgiving unto God who appeared unto him when he sled from the face of his brother Esau and had now delivered him Likewise when God had delivered Israel and brought them out of the wildernesse and through the river Iordan he commanded Joshua to take twelve ●tones out of the middest of Jordan and set them up to bee a memoriall to future generations of what God had that day done for them 2. Therefore the people of God used to record speciall mercies and deliverances in their Chronicles in the names of their children of places and the like Ex. 15.1 Jud. 5.1 Isa 38. ● Also in spirituall Songs and Psalmes So did Moses Israels deliverance out of Aegypt Deborah and Baruk their great deliverance from and victory over Sisera and Iabin King of Canaan And Hezekiah his Song of thanksgiving after his recovery from so eminent a danger of death Hest 9 10. c. ver 29 30 31 and the Jewes feast of Purim And thirdly there is great reason for it 1. From the lesse to the great I argue thus If we must be thankfull for particular and smaller even f●r the least mercy as it is Psal 103.2 Forget not at all i.e. any of his benefits and there is good reason for it then much lesse may we forget or be unthankfull for great and extraordinary mercies and deliverances out of extremities wherein Gods goodnesse power wisedome mercy Reas 1. c. are most remarkably seen 2. From the equity of the duty 2. wayes First because Gods mercies to the fathers are mercies to their posterity future generations are the better for them Here the mercy shewed to Abraham in saving Isaac was a mercy to all ages He was to be the seed of the Church In him i.e. in the Messiah that was to be borne of him all Nations should be blessed So we this day reape the fruit of those great deliverances in 88. and from the Gun-powder treason and others since if either of those 1588 1605. or these had taken effect either we had not now been at all or been miserable slaves to Antichrist both in our soules bodies and estates without the wonderfull and extraordinary mercy of God and therefore great reason such great mercies and deliverances should be recorded and the memory of them perpetuated that the generations to come after us who have the bene●it of them should know them and blesse God for them Psal 102 18. This shall be written for the generation to come and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. Secondly It is equall also that there should be some proportion between our receits and our returnes our mercies are great extraordinary lasting standing mercies for future times and therefore great reason our returnes of praise should be more then ordinary lasting and continued in our posterity 3. Such mercies and deliverances should be specially noted and the remembrance of them perpetuated to testifie our love to God desire of his glory and hearty thankefulnesse for his goodnesse care and providence over us which appeares in that we would have his goodnesse to be remembred and his praise to live when we are dead So men doe with benefactors record their kindnesse and bounty set up a Monument with inscriptions that after times may reade their kindnesse and bounty towards us whom we love and desire to honour for their beneficence towards us especially if publicke and much more should we labour to perpetuate the mercies and praises of our good and bountifull God and Saviour to testifie our love to him and desire of his glory In this case a gracious heart may use the words of Paul who said The love of Christ constraineth us If we truly love God 2 Cor. 5.14 and desire to honour him we shall endeavour to perpetuate his praises 4. We should take speciall notice of and labour to continue the remembrance of speciall deliverances and mercies for the benefit of future ages for the strengthening their faith comfort and support in evill times For this cause saith David shall every one that is godly pray unto thee We have heard with our eares O God Psal 32.6.44.1 c. say the faithfull in evill times Our fathers have told us what work thou didst in their dayes in the time of old and marke what use the Church makes of Gods former mercies and deliverances to his people Thou art my King O God v. 4 5. command deliverances for Jacob through thee we will push downe our enemies through thy name we will tread them under that rise up against us The remembrance of former mercies to his people though long before doth strengthen their faith and put courage into them in their straites makes them confident in evill times and to rest on God in their greatest exigents and this use wee should ever make of former deliverances as did also David 1 Sam. 17.34 2 Cor 1.10 Paul and others Vse of Reprehension This being a duty so apparent and necessary it may serve to reprove and condemne the great ingratitude and vile practise of most men and of our selves in particular who are so far from perpetuating the remembrance of Gods mercies and deliverances to our selves and the Land That 1. Many doe not returne thanks to God for them no scarce while they are fresh and new before our eyes especially for smaller more ordinary and common mercies and deliverances We cannot looke any way beside mercies If we looke into our selves we have our being our soules and bodies all our members faculties and abilities from God with the continuance of them If we looke without us on the Heaven the Earth and Seas meat drinke clothing houses the fire water ayre we breathe in every creature is a mercy There are also spirituall mercies God gave us his Sonne a wonderfull mercy and deliverance wrought by him for man the Gospell the Word and Sacraments great mercies and these with many others we doe enjoy hitherto with peace plenty and liberty no small blessings God hath compassed us about with mercies and delivers us every day from many knowne and more unknown dangers that might befall us If we looke upon mercies in the Mount in time of extremity we may say much both of publicke and private of privative and positive mercies If God had not put in and holpen us may many of us say I had certainly dyed in such a sicknesse in such a danger I had been utterly undone in such a lesse I had been

the full vessell all precious liquour is spilt that is powred on it and the seed lost that is cast on unplowed ground as the hony combe to a full stomack so are mercies and deliverances to an unhumble people therefore it is said 1 Pet. 5.5 God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble and meeke as the Baker doth not set his bread into the Oven though it be handled and ready till the Oven be through hot so neither doth God bestow especially great mercies upon a person or people till they be humbled heated with desire after and prepared for it as a Husband-man doth not cast his seed into the ground till the time and season of the yeare and the ground be plowed and fitted for it so here And this is the first reason God doth sometimes bring his people into extremities to humble them and make them fit for mercy So now to make them fit for the mercies preparing I doe not say that all the people in the Land must be prepared that will never be but a considerable number is needfull and all should labour to be such 2. The Lord doth it to prove both the affection and obedience of his people 1. Their Affection their faith patience and love to him to see how they will trust in him and cleave to him in evill times and how they will beare evils whether they will love their ease liberty profit or any other thing or himself most v. 1. it is said God did proove Abraham and therefore said unto him Gen. 22.1 Take now thine onely Sonne Isaac whom thou lovest and offer him up for a burnt Offering c. Now Gods intent being to prove Abrahams fai●h and love to him to see whether he would cleave unto him and did love his God or his son most therefore hee lets him goe on to the very point he might have given him a dispensation before he came out of his doores when he saw him preparing or in the way but he did not till it came to the uttermost that he might fully try him and then God sayes Lay not thine hand upon the child V●● 11 12. for now I know that thou fearest me seeing thou hast not with-held thy son thine onely sonne from me As among men many friends promise faire but when it comes to the very point then it appeares what they are indeed So here such as professe friendship unto God are knowne when they are tryed at a pinch or strait 2 So likewise to prove their Obedience the Lord doth sometimes put them on it to the uttermost sometimes hee gives them such commands that they are put into many straits So it w s w●th 〈…〉 so with Daniel D● c. 3. 〈◊〉 6. as here Abraham if he should kill his son all the Heathen would cry out upon him for it if he should tell them that God commanded him so to doe what would they thinke of the true God How blasphemously would they thinke and speake of him and of the true Religion If neither of these yet he should loose his child his onely sonne whom he loved deerly and the child of promise If hee doe it not then he incurres Gods displeasure This the Lord puts his children upon it to see if they will obey him when it comes to matter of great lesse or suffering 3. God doth it to manifest to the whole world and to themselves the truth and strength of that grace he hath given them and so will glorifie himselfe in the worke of his owne grace wrought in his people v. 1. it is said After these things God tempted Abraham So Christ after he was baptized Mat. 4.1 and had received extraordinary evidences of Gods favour from Heaven He was led into the wildernesse to be tempted of the Divell and so tryed And Paul had a Messenger of Satan a thorne in the flesh to buffet him long though he prayed earnestly to have it remooved this to manifest the truth and strength of grace he had given them whereby hee brings much glory to himselfe 3 Cor. 12.7 8 9. their chearefull going on through great streights doth arguestrength of grace and Gods great power in them All the while the godly are in prosperity wicked men are apt and oft doe charge them with hypocrisie and call them hypocrites but afflictions doe discover the truth of their graces All the while Iob was in prosperity his sincerity was not knowne to his enemies therefore Satan challenged Iob to God for an hypocrite Iob 1. but his great affliction did manifest him to be no hypocrite but a sincere upright hearted man truly fearing God Virtus magis conspicitur in adversis Virtue is most conspicuous in adverse times as a Candle shines clearest and gives the best light in the night and so the starres which are not seene in the day shine brightest in the darkest and coldest winter nights So grace will then most shew it selfe when a man is brought to the greatest exigent under heaviest affliction Pauls excellent graces patience wisdome faith courage c. had never beene so conspicuous had it not been for his great afflictions and troubles nor Abrahams faith nor Iobs patience nor Moses meekenesse If there were none or no difficult diseases there could be no tryall of the Physitions skill the house builded on the sand seemed to have as faire and good a foundation as that on the rocke till a great storme came and the windes blew Prosperity is as the grave that buries many excellent graces of Gods children but affliction like Christs resurrection as it were opens the graves and manifests them to the world and so Gods g●●dnesse and power in them As to others so to themselves the truth and strength of their graces are apparent often times hereby they come to see that grace and strength not of but in themselves which they saw not before hereby it appeares they are sonnes and not bastards seeing their heavenly Father so tendering their soules welfare that he will rather punish them and that sharply afflict them and that sore sometimes then let them goe on in sinne to their hurt and destruction See full to this purpose Hebr. 12.6 7 8. 4. The Lord often brings his people into great straits to quicken them to duties meditation searching of the Promises and passages of Gods providence to his people formerly especially to fasting and prayer Those that at other times are negligent and superficiall in duties yea wholly neglect them prophane persons will in their straits seeke unto God and others will be more frequent and fervent in duties I will goe and returne unto my place saith God In their affliction they will seeke me early Hos 5.15 Isa 26.16 Lord saith the Prophe● in trouble they have visited thee they powred out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them All the while the Sea was calme the Souldiers and Marriners were merry and thought not on God but when in

what they should meet with in the way to Heaven and prepare for the worst Quest. You will say what is to be done that we may be prepared for troubles that whatsoever troubles may befall us we may be able with comfort to undergoe them Answ 1. First and above all get God to be thy friend Directions Rom 8 31. Isa 54.17 to be reconciled unto him and have interest in him For if God be with us saith the Apostle who can be against us what enemy what weapon can prevaile If a man be brought into the Mount into never so great troubles to the uttermost extremity that all meanes helps and hopes in the world faile him yet if he have assurance of Gods love and favour who is all sufficient and all i● all all outward troubles and wants will seem little or nothing to him Therefore here Abraham went as willingly into the Mount and did undergoe this great tryall with as composed and cheerfull a spirit and so hath many a faithfull servant of God formerly and of late yeares went to prison to the Pillory yea to the stake as cheerfull as many a man would goe to his owne house Therefore seeke unto God betimes make thy peace with him confesse and bewayle thy sinnes humble thy selfe before him intreat his favour in the Lord Jesus Act. 12. as the Sydonians did Herods favour by the meanes of Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine And this if we doe be at peace with him while we are in peace and prosperity he will know our souls in adversity and we shall alwayes have a rocke to sly unto in the greatest waves and surges of affliction and a sure way to save all Mat. 20.39 even then when we lose all in the world for his sake 2. Fore-cast the cost and charge of Religion and likewise the rewards and comforts Fore-thinke the worst that may come the greatest afflictions troubles persecution or other tryals that can befall And thinke also of the rich reward and comforts of well doing here and hereafter and then c●st up the accounts and see what a mighty disproportion there is betwixt the affliction and troubles here and glory hereafter As the Apostle did saith he I reckon Rom 8.18 that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us I reckon He cast up all before-hand In vulgata Edit Roberti Stepha●i The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies not as the vulgar translation renders it Existimo I thinke implying only a probable conjecture but a certaine weighing and concluding upon sound consideration As a man that casts up accounts reckons up all the small summes and layes the particulars together to see what the product or totall is so the Apostle casts up all the particular sufferings that he had or could suffer from the hands of God Men Devils or any other creatures or any way for righteousnesse sake and layes all together and then compares that with glory and upon sound judgement concludes I reckon that the sufferings And so must we doe if we would comfortably undergoe the worst condition as Paul did This good advise our Saviour gave to his followers when he saw great multitudes he turned to them and said Whosoever doth not beare his Crosse and come after me Luk. 14 27.28 ●9 30 31. he cannot be my Disciple Also more clearly in the Parables of bu●lding a Towes and making warre with another King therefore fore-cast the cost consider before-hand what you may s●ff●r and the great and incomparable reward of well-doing and suffering in a good cause 3. Settle in thy heart a full purpose and firme resolution in the Name of God to stand it out to undergoe the worst come what will come be it losse of credit in the world losse of liberty or wealth yea to dye and to part with all rather then Christ and his truth or betray the peace of the Land or doe any unrighteous action res●lve to suff●r rather then to sinne Such a resolution Paul ●ad when his friends told him that he must be bound at Jerusalem Act. 21 13. and be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles and besought him with teares not to goe up to Jerusalem saith he What doe ye meane to weep and to breake my heart I am ready not to be bound only but also to dye at Jerus●lem for the Name of the Lord J●●us C. 20. v. 23 24. Likewise Cap. 20. The Holy-Ghost witnesseth in every City saying That bonds and afflictions abide me but none of these things move me neither count I my life deare unto my selfe so that 〈◊〉 might finish my course with ioy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus Resolution will carry a man on far and inable him to undergoe much 4 Labour for an habit of Self-denyall This will be of great use and help us much Therefore our Lord Christ when he exhorted any to follow him in taking up his Crosse i.e. by a willing submitting to suffer and undergoe all troubles they should meet with in the way to Heaven gives them this good counsell and commands them to observe it to deny themselves Mat. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himselfe and take up his Crosse and follow me Marke the order of the words and then this will follow That he that will beare all afflictions and tryals comfortably and follow Christ sincerely must first deny himselfe When a thing is dead you may doe with it what you will pricke it or throw it into the fire it is not moved so it is with the man whose carnall will reason and affections are mortified when a man is dead to the world then whipping buffering or the fiery tryall of persecution which strips a man of all outward things troubles him not or very little Let us therefore labour to mortifie our lusts to deny our selves take off our hearts and affections from the world and the things of it and set them upon God Christ Heaven and Life eternall and so on the wayes and meanes that will bring us thither for he that hath learned to deny himselfe in any thing and hath his heart weaned from them will without trouble part with an Isaac with any thing at Gods command suffer the losse of all with joy as the faithfull Jewes did Heb. 10. and regard no bands afflictions Heb. 10.34 Rev 12.11 Act. 20.23 24. or sufferings They loved not their lives unto the death None of these things move me saith Paul a self-denying Christian neither count I my life deare unto me c. Oh this world is a mighty hinderance to suffering When God cals into the Mount these earthly comforts and contentments are like a great clog on our hearts and hinder us much We are wonderfull unwilling to part with a deare friend especially an Isaac a beloved sonne or husband or wife or our estates

buty the Churches mercies and hopes in the ruines of destruction and that curse when they should blesse and blaspheme where they should set up monuments to perpetuate the praises of God and the remembrance of his mercies So especially doth that wicked Balaam of Rome by his Buls and Excommunications and his Abettou●s here Such are in a fearfull condition the good Lord open their eyes to see and consider and make use of that gracious and terrible speech of God comfortable to his people and terrible to their enemies Cursed be he that curseth you Gen 27.20 Num. 24.9 and blessed be he that blesseth you spoken indeed to Jacob but in him to all the Israel of God as it is applyed by him whose eyes were open and saw the vision of God Vse of Exhortation Secondly Whatsoever others doe or our selves have formerly done yet let us now be hence convinced of our failings be humbled for them and excited to our duty and that is 1. To give God the praise of all mercies and deliverances and of all his wondrous workes God gives deliverance to his people that he may fill their hearts and mouthes with Songs of praise and gives us a charge so to doe Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Sing unto him sing Psalmes unto him Isal 50.15.105 2. and talke of all his wondrous workes 2. To praise Gods due and our duty for all his goodnesse to us and his ioyne prayer to God for our selves and the Church that God would be pleased still to goe on to doe us good that God would accomplish his worke and doe good unto Zion and be favourable to Ierusalem ever watch over it preserve support comfort it and perfect his mercies and evermore mightily defend it that Ierusalem may be the praise of the whole Earth Cant 6.4 Comely as Titz●h in respect of pure order and ordinances and terrible as an Army with banners to the enemies in respect of d●●me blessing and protection To move us to thankfulnesse consider these Motives 1. The number Motives greatnesse variety sutablenesse and continuance of Gods mercies and deliverances both personall and nationall temporall and spirituall of which a touch hath bin given before And surely the more the greater and more excellent mercies are the more they will a fect and stirre the heart if there be but a principle of common honesty in it and any notice taken of them 2. Consider the affections of God the giver which is to be preferred before a Parents Never was a Father nor a Mothers love whose affections are usually more tender more to their child then Gods is to his chosen See Isa 49.15 It is therefore set downe by way of admiration God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Sonne Joh. 3.16 1 Joh. 3.1 and Behold what love the Father hath shewed unto us This consideration and perswasion is very needfull for unlesse we be perswaded and doe consider that what God doth for his people and for our selves in particular is not in wrath as he sometime gave Israel a King in his anger and Quailes to murmuring Israel but in mercy out of love and for our good we cannot be truely thankfull we are more thankfull for a small kindnesse from him whom we know loveth us then for a farre greater matter from him of whose good affection towards us we have just cause to doubt it is the perswasion of a kindnesse and love in a benefactour that stirres up to thankfulnesse and when these meet together that good turnes are great many sutable to our condition and desires durable and out of love and a man is perswaded of this then they affect the heart kindly 3. Consider all so the freenesse of God the giver that all mercies and deliverances are free and altogether undeserved He is not bound to us by way of desert and debt but of free promise Gen. 32.10 We are all as was Iacob lesse then the least of all his mercies all is of meere grace and free favour If we have but a bit of bread and cold water it is free mercy if more it is his bounty if nothing at all if he give nothing but take away all we have and punish us also for our sins he doth us no wrong we have no cause to complaine but to justifie the Lord. This is very considerable to move us to thankfulnesse 4. Consider our miserable condition without these mercies which we may know carendo magis quam fruendo best by the want of them Did we a while want health strength liberty meat drinke apparell or the like we should thinke our case ill Were we turmoyled a while with civill warre which God in mercy avert as in Germany and Ireland at this day where very many thousands are already slaine and they that survive most of them have their goods spoyled their houses burnt themselves turned out naked very many of them some have their husbands some their sonnes barbarously murdered before their eyes some their wives or daughters or both desloured shamefully abused and afterward butchered by rude Souldiers some women as I remember ript up alive some have their fruit drop from them as they hang on the gallowes some grievously mangled and many other miseries which they onely can best know that feele them or are eye and ear-witnesses of them But it is much worse where a soule lyes under an accusing condemning tormenting conscience wants and feeles the want of pardon of sinne and Gods favour this is the greatest misery Thinke then what a piteous case you should be in were it thus with us as undoubtedly it had bin before this if our proud enemies had prevailed as they hoped and believed they should doe and are yet confident yea if you want but outward mercies as liberty meat drinke c. but a few dayes and much more if you want pardon of sin for which a conscious sinner would give all the world and lye under a sore wounded conscience and let the consideration of the want of mercies make us truely thankfull for what we doe enjoy 5. Thinke also on the other-side what an happinesse it is to enjoy these m●r●rs and deliverances which we by the goodnesse of God and the wisedome and care of the Parliament doe enjoy Oh how happy would many a thousand in Germany and Ireland that are in extreame want ready to perish thinke themselves did they enjoy the plenty we doe or the fourth part of it if they had but bread enough though never so course to put into their bellies Or he that is extreame heart-sicke even ready to breathe out the last gaspe to have health I he poore wearied man with continuall frights fears alarums and great dangers to enjoy peace And so in other things all which by the indulgent goodness of God we doe yet enjoy We were happy if we had eyes to see our owne